Dental amalgamator



May 2l, 1940- E. l.. CHQTT 2,201,428

DENTAL AMALGma-f'ron Filed Magari 16, 1939 lzrafl. 7102122 7M madam/k /dzls ZiEarrzeg.

Patented May 21, 1940 UNITED STATES DENTAL AMALGAMATOR Edward L. Chott, Chicago, lll., assignor of onehall' to Hugo J. Chott, Chicago, I lL Application March 16, 1939, Serial No. 262,118

8 Claims.

This invention relates to amalgamators and more particularly it relates to amalgamators as employed in dental laboratories for amalgamating, for example, mercury and alloys for making fillings. It will be manifest that it .is desirable that the amalgamation be very thorough and be done with a minimum of time and labor. I am familiar with devices heretofore provided in the shape of vibrators, forA example, and an object of my invention has been to produce an improved amalgamator which will be not merely a vibrator or oscillator. By means of my invention, I have provided means whereby the mortar or capsule holding the ingredients to be amalgamated will have the direction of itsaxes changed and be moved in every essential way to produce a thorough amalgamation.

By means of my invention, the mortar and ingredients will be moved in a somewhat circular, up and down and side to side motion with the mortar or capsule changing the direction of its axes at each revolution so that the ingredients to be amalgamated will be agitated and shaken in every essential way.

By means of my invention, tests show that an amalgamation that requires seconds at the present time may be produced in 7 seconds, and in addition, an improved amalgamation is produced.

An object, among others, is to provide means for accomplishing the foregoing results which will be simple and relatively inexpensive, easy to assemble and obviate oiling. The elimination of oiling is of considerable importance to y dentists as the devices now in use require oiling, which has ymanifest disadvantages. l

Other objects and advantages will appear and be more fully brought out in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side view of the device;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of same;

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of same taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section ofpart of the device;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the eccentric bushing in the position shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of same with its position changed degrees;

Fig. 7 is an end view of the eccentric bushing;

Fig. 8 is a view from the opposite end of the bushing;

Fig. 9 is an elevation of a modified form, partly in section;

Fig. 10 is a section of the bushing and motor shaft in the position shown in Fig. 9; and

Fig. 11 is a section of the same with the bushing changed 180 degrees in position.

Referring to the drawing Where I have selected preferred forms for purposes of illustrating the principles of my invention, there is shown referring more particularly to Figs. 1-3, base I5 with one or more cushions I6, the base having a circumferential flange I1 and the base being provided with securing holes I8. A motor housing I9 is mounted on the base i5 by suitable means and there is provided therefor a cord 20 having plug 2| for a source of power supply and the motor housing is provided with a switch 22. The motor has the usual rotor shaft 23 withone end provided with threads 24.

Adapted to be mounted upon the threaded 'end of the shaft 23 is an eccentric bushing 25 particularly illustrated in Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8. The bushing 25 has a tapered hexagonal fiange 26 having an outer face 21 normal to the axisof shaft 23 and an inner face 28 at an intersecting angle to the angle or plane of face 21, or obliquely or diagonally`to said axis. The bushing also includes an integral sleeve 29. According to the principles of my invention, I have arranged the structures so that the outer cylindrical surface of the eccentric bushing 25 will be at an acute angle to the axis of the motor shaft 23. I have found it satisfactory to arrange the outer cylindrical surface of the sleeve 29 at an angle of six degrees to the motor shaft 23 although obviously this may be changed as found expedient and a different angle adopted.

In the form which Ihave shown, the outer surface of the sleeve it at right angles with or normal to the inner face 28 of the ange 2E and at an angle of six degrees with the outer face 21 of the flange 26.

It will be seen particularly from Figs. 5 and 6 that the sleeve is oif center or eccentric with respect to the flange 26.

The bushing 25 is provided with a threaded a bore 30 which bore, it will be understood, may be at an angle of six degrees with respect to the outer cylindrical surface of the sleeve 29. I n

this case, it will be seen that motion transmitted 50 in said gures.

to the eccentricity of lthe bushing 25 is a ball bearing cage 3i having the usual ball bearings. and in turn loosely mounted upon the ball bearing cage is a split collar support 32 having. integral ears 33 adapted to be locked together by clamping screw 34 to clamp also one end oi a spring 35 therebetween. The other end of the spring extends through. an opening 36 in the base i5 and being anchored I'by meansY of a .pin 31 mounted in thereces's 38. The spring keeps the n support from yturning with the bushing and tends to normally hold the support vertical and absorbs and takes up throw, thrust and vibration.

The split collar support 32 has an integral vertical extension 39 supporting a pair of spring arms 40 secured by screws 4I or other Suitable means. The spring arms 40 are formed at their upper ends with integral cups 42 of a somewhat semi-spherical form and also grasping projections 43 are formed to facilitate handling of the device.

Adapted to be held by the spring arms 40 in the cups 42 is a mortar or capsule 44 consisting of a hollow chambered body 45 provided with a hollow cap 46, the body 45 and cap 46 having preferably rounded semi-spherical ends 4l to register with the cups 42. The roller bearing cage 3| is held on the sleeve 29 by a collar 48. This collar 48 has an inner face 49, an outer face 50, and a bore 5I of the collar which is mounted on -the shaft 23. The outer face 50 of the collar 48 is at right angles to the bore 5I, but the bore in the form. shown is arranged at an angle of six degrees with respect to the inner face 49. The angled inner face 49 registers with the end of the cage 3l and a hexagonal locking cap or cap nut 52 threads on the shaft 23, by which construction the bushing and cage are held properly mounted on the shaft 23.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the bush ing will revolve Within the roller bearing cage and as thehigh point of the eccentric bushing 25 revolves, it will cause the split collar support 32 "tofbe'moved in such a manner that the mortar will be moved in a circular back andforth and up and down and side to` side motion with the mortar changing the direction of axes at each revolution. That is, the mortar is oscillated horizontally laterally on a vertical axis, and simultaneously reciprocated or caused to take a swinging motion back and forth with each horizontal l lateral oscillation. A particular advantage of this motion is that the substance to be amalgamated is shaken in practically every essential Way and more eiciently than the human hand would shake it. It is not merely oscillated about an axis, but is so moved that the mortar changes the direction of axes during every revolution.L

In Figs. 9, 10 and 11, I have shown a modified form of the device. There is shown a motor 53 with supporting lugs 54, a cord 55 for a source of power supply, a shaft 56 threaded as at 51, an eccentric bushing 58 having a flange 69 and sleeve B0. As shown in Figs. 10 and 11, the bushing 58 has a reduced portion 6| and a threaded stem 62. The bushing has a bore 63 which is off center leading from its flanged end, as clearly shown In the form shown, the stem 62 and the cylindrical surface 60 together with the cylindrical surface of the reduced portion 6| are at an angle of six degrees with respect to the shaft 56, the principle being the sameas in the case of the connection between the bushing 25 and the shaft 23 of the rst form.

A hub 64 is provided with a bore '65 and is mounted on the bushing 58. A collar 66 is provided on the stem 62 against the hub 64 and there is also provided upon the stem a washer 6l and a pair `of locking'nuts 68 clearly shown in Fig.9. The hub has a vertical integral 'post 69 having spring arms 'l0 with spring cups 7i adapted to engage and hold the mortar 64. The vertical post 69 extends through a slotted guide 'i2 which may be integral with the motor housing, as clearly shown in Fig. 9.

In this form, yas in the previous form, it will be seen that the bushing 58 will revolve'within the hub 64 and as the high point of the eccentric bushing revolves, it will cause the `hub toA be moved in such a manner that the mortar will be moved in a circular back and forth and up and down and side to side motion with the mortar changing the direction of its axes at each revolu tion. It will thus be seen that whereas in the rst form, the spring 35 limits the movement of the mortar supporting arms and the supporting split collar support about the bushing, in the second'form, the movement of the hub 64 and mortar supporting arms l0 about the bushing or turning therewith is limited by the slotted guide 12 which keeps the arms vertical.

It will be understood that while I have stated that I have found that arranging the axis of the cylindrical surfaces of the bushings at an angle of six degrees to the shaft is preferable, this can of course be varied.

The letter A in Fig. 1, referring to the dotted lines, represents the rearmost position of the mortar holding arms and mortar. In thisposition, the longitudinal axis of the mortar will be at an angle to the motor shaft and in the plane of the 4 motor shaft.

The letter B in Fig. 5 represents the position of the bushing after it has turned at an angle of degrees from the position which it would have had with the mortar holding arms in the position. of letter A and is the same as the position of the bushing in Fig. 2.

The letter C indicates the position of the mortar and mortar holding arms after the bushing has been moved 90 degrees further in its revolutions or degrees from the dotted line position in Fig. 1 and the mortar arms and mortar and bushing are in the opposite position from that which they occupy in the dotted line position in Fig. 1. This is the foremost position of the mortar holding arms and mortar; that is, the position when they are farthest away from the motor housing or farthest to the right, as shown in Fig. 1.

The letter D in Fig. 6 represents the position of the bushing after the bushing has been further turned 90 degrees from the position shown in Fig. 1 and this position is opposite from the position shown in Figs. 2 and 5. 1 f

Letter E indicates a point on the axis on the cylinder of' the cylindrical surface of the bushing and the bushing turns horizontally on this axis during every revolution. l

In this way, as the bushing rotates, the mortar travels in a circular manner from. a rearward to a forward position changing or reversing the direction of the axes of the mortar when it travels from a rearward to a. forward position and back again as it movesvfrom the forward to the rearward position in its rotary path. In other words, it travels from the rear forwardly and from the forward position to a rear position and yfrom side to side and changes the direction of its axes in each revolution of the bushing.

As shown in Fig. 4, a pestle or pellet 13 is preferably used to disintegrate and amalgamate the ingredients. The operation of the pestle within the mortar will be manifestl from the foregoing description, I have found that the use of the pestle assists and speeds up the amalgamation.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my in` vention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention` I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described ymy invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Pat' ent is:

1. In an amalgamator, a motor, a shaft operated by said motor, a cylindrical bushing eccentrically mounted on said shaft with its longitudinal axis at an acute angle to said shaft, and mortar supporting means loosely mounted on said bushing and extending substantially radially thereto, and means preventing rotation of the mortar supporting means with said shaft.

2. In an amalgamator, a motor driven shaft, mortar supporting means, a mortar supported thereby, and a connection between said shaft and said suporting means for oscillating the mortar on its transverse axis which passes radially through said shaft and simultaneously reciprocating the same on its longitudinal axis.

3. In an amalgamator, a motor driven shaft, mortar supporting means, a `mortar supported thereby, and a connection between said shaft and said supporting means for oscillating the mortar on its central transverse axis which passes radially through said shaft, and simultaneously reciprocating the same on its longitudinal axis.

4. In an amalgamator, a motor driven shaft, a collar, an arm extending substantially radially from said collar, means on said arm to support a capsule mortar, and a connection between said shaft and said collar for imparting an arcuate reciprocating motion to said mortar longitudinally` thereof, and a simultaneous oscillating motion on an axis at substantially right angles to the axis of the first said motion, and means preventing rotation of the mortar supporting means with said shaft.

5. In an amalgamator, a motor driven shaft, a collar, an arm extending substantially radially from said collar, means on said arm to support a capsule mortar. a bushing fixed to said shaft at an acute angle to the axis of said shaft, and forming a bearing for said collar, whereby an arcuate reciprocating motion is imparted to the mortar longitudinally thereof, and a simultaneous oscillation on an axis at substantially right angles to ythe axis of the first said motion.

6. In an amalgamator, a motor driven shaft, a bushing on said shaft fixed to rotate therewith. the longitudinal axis of said bushing being at an acute angle to the axis of said shaft, said axes intersecting substantially midway of the length of said bushing, a collar mounted on said bushing, an armextending substantially radially from the collar, means on said arm for supporting a capsule mortar, and means to prevent rotation of the collar and arm with said shaft.

7. In an amalgamator, a motor driven shaft, a bushing on said shaft fixed to rotate therewith. the longitudinal axis of said bushing intersecting the axis of the shaft at an acute angle. a collar on said bushing, an arm extending substantially radially from said collar, means on said arm to tached to said collar to prevent the collar and arm from rotating with the shaft.

8. In an amalgamator, a motor driven shaft, a bushing on said shaft fixed to rotate therewith.

' the longitudinal axis of said bushing intersecting support a capsule mortar, and resilient means at-V 

